Obama Denying Fewer Gun Purchasers Than Clinton or Bush

Gun purchasers who go through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) are being denied at a much lower rate under President Obama than they were under Presidents Bush or Clinton.

According to The Washington Times, under Bill Clinton during the years 1999 and 2000 “.83 percent of [gun purchase] applicants were denied.” Under George W. Bush “the denial rate was about .67 percent.”

Under Obama the denial rate fell to .46 percent, “and was even lower” during the first six months of 2013–the very time when Obama and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) were stressing the important role expanding background checks would play in reducing crime.

In fact, the low point for background check denials came under Obama in January 2013. The number of would-be buyers denied that month was .33 percent.